My coworkers and I are currently reading the book Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Our Identity in Christ. When we completed chapter 4; we wrestled with the question of how we see ourselves. The question asked: Do you see yourself as a sinner striving to be a saint or a saint who struggles with sin?
As I went home, I began to think more of my answer where I stated that I often view myself as a sinner striving to be a saint and not a saint who struggles with sin.
I began to wonder why I view myself in that light. I recognize that I can be my own worst critic but the whole chapter was focused on being able to see ourselves as a saint. As it stated that we became a saint when we accepted Jesus into our lives.
I have always defined a saint as a perfect individual; someone without fault; yet a saint is someone with closeness to Jesus.
I wrestled with this more because I have always held a “saint” to a high standard such as a pastor, bible scholar, or a Mother Teresa but now I wonder if I’ve been viewing myself through the wrong lens.
The truth is I want us to see ourselves as God sees us. To be confident in being set apart as Believers knowing that we will still have the struggles of sin but we have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us to overcome it.
It is my prayer that we begin to see ourselves through the lens of our Creator and as we begin to learn more about Him, we will in return learn more about who He created us to be.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. – Ephesians 2:19 (ESV)